Arne Slot insists he will be Liverpool manager next season as Salah’s return looks limited, while Arsenal face key fitness decisions ahead of Cup and PSG final.
Liverpool’s title-winning season has ended with a heavy dose of uncertainty. but Arne Slot has moved to shut down the most persistent question around his future.. Ahead of Liverpool’s final away game of the campaign at Aston Villa on Friday night. the Reds’ head coach said he has “every reason to believe” he will still be in charge next season. even as scrutiny has intensified over recent months.
Slot’s message came against the backdrop of a sharp change in direction for Liverpool after an early-season slump.. The club have gone from fighting for the Premier League to aiming to finish inside the top five. and the coach acknowledged that the season has not matched the standard set previously.. “It hasn’t been a great season. ” Slot said. adding that criticism is a normal consequence when teams do not win the league. with responsibility shared across players. the manager and others within the club.
While Slot stressed he is not making the decision alone. his position was anchored in practical points: he is under contract and is engaging in discussions that support his belief that he will remain the manager next year.. The tone was firm. but it also contained an acceptance that results have placed everyone under the spotlight. particularly in a modern environment where pressure rises quickly when expectations are not met.
Friday’s trip to Villa Park carries additional significance because Mohamed Salah is preparing to return for what will be the opening phase of his farewell fortnight.. Sources indicate the Egyptian is in line to feature. but his involvement is expected to be brief—potentially only a cameo—if the hamstring issue that has disrupted his recent weeks allows him to take part.
Salah is still set to leave at the end of the season. with his final game at Anfield scheduled for Sunday against Brentford.. However. the hamstring problem has limited his rhythm during the closing stretch. and Slot’s comments suggest a careful approach to managing his minutes rather than rushing him back for anything more than a short appearance.
Goalkeeper Alisson is another name on Liverpool’s fitness list.. The Brazilian shot-stopper has trained. but whether he travels to the Midlands remains uncertain. leaving Slot to weigh up how much game-readiness he can confidently rely on.. That decision could matter in a match that closes out the season for Liverpool’s group of staff and players. with performances likely to shape how the club plans their next steps.
Florian Wirtz is also being monitored after a stomach bug this week. The German is reported to be on antibiotics, and his availability remains in doubt, adding another layer of complexity for Slot as he prepares a squad for the final test of the campaign.
There is slightly more reassurance on one defensive front: Ibrahima Konate is said to be okay after limping off last week.. Konate’s fitness will be important for a Liverpool side that has faced heavy criticism for defensive frailties. particularly when the club’s overall trajectory has slipped compared to the previous season.
Across north London. Arsenal are preparing for their own end-of-season pressures with fitness concerns of a different kind—especially as attention shifts to a Champions League final.. Mikel Arteta indicated that Jurrien Timber is targeting a return in time for the showdown against Paris Saint-Germain at the end of May. after his absence since being forced off in the first half of a 2-0 win over Everton in mid-March.
Timber has not simply been a squad player for Arsenal this season; he has contributed heavily. making 43 appearances across all competitions.. That profile has underlined why his potential return is so significant. and Arteta said Timber has progressed in recent days. though the plan remains cautious and focused on getting him back available as quickly as possible.
Arteta said he “doesn’t know” how large the chance is that Timber returns before the end of the season. but emphasized that the right-back is doing everything he can to help the team in any capacity.. With Arsenal chasing a first league title in 22 years. any boost—whether for league games or the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30—could have a psychological and tactical impact.
Arsenal’s schedule provides two Premier League matches before the European decider.. They host Burnley on Monday night and then travel to Crystal Palace on May 24 as they press toward the top.. From there, the Champions League final becomes the clear focus point, even as league momentum continues to matter.
The injury picture is not limited to Timber. Arteta also said he does not know if Riccardo Calafiori will be available for Monday’s match, though he added that it is hoped the issue is not serious, with the club set to wait and see how he reacts.
Defensive stability could be a bigger problem than anything Arsenal might regain in the short term.. Ben White is reported to be out for the long term after suffering medial collateral ligament damage in his right knee against West Ham last weekend. and Arteta described it as a long-term injury.. The priority now is getting White back fit for Arsenal. but the manager was clear that it is not something that will happen in the coming weeks.
For Arsenal. that mix—hope for Timber. uncertainty around Calafiori. and a lengthy timeline for White—sets up a final stretch where squad management becomes as important as tactics.. With crucial league matches followed by the Champions League final. the choices Arteta makes next could shape how Arsenal balance recovery. intensity and momentum.
Meanwhile. Slot’s insistence that he expects to be Liverpool’s manager next season brings a different kind of urgency: the pressure to finish the campaign strong. even amid unresolved questions about overall performance.. If Salah’s cameo ends up being all he can manage. and if additional absences limit rotation. Liverpool’s final away game at Villa Park may not just be about points—it could be a snapshot of how the club will address concerns before the next season begins.
Arne Slot Liverpool Mohamed Salah injury Aston Villa Liverpool Arsenal fitness fight Jurrien Timber return Champions League final PSG Ben White injury
So he’s staying or not? Sounds like he said yes but everyone’s still mad.
Arsenal fitness fight? Like they’re just tired from partying at the Emirates. Also Salah coming back limited?? that’s gonna ruin everything.
I don’t trust any coach that “shuts down” questions. Half the time that means they already hired someone else in the back. And top five vs title is like a downgrade, but people act like it’s fine.
The headline says Slot backs next season but the article also says Liverpool had an early slump and only top five vibes. So was it good or not? And how does Salah’s return being limited even relate, like do they just stop scoring or what. Arsenal and PSG final too, feels like everybody’s injured at once every year.